Portable athletic table



Dec. 1%, 1969 G E, BELNAP 3,483,574

PORTABLE ATHLET I C TABLE Filed May 5, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEVTOR. GORDON E. BELNAP ATTORNEY 3969 G. E. BELNAP 3,483,574?

PORTABLE ATHLETTC TABLE Filed May 5, 1968 3 SheetsShee+ 2 ,1 INVENTLY/R. GORDON E. BELNAP I N wdf J m .a,

ATTORNEY D86. 16, 1959 G E, BELNAP PORTABLE ATHLET I C TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 5, 1968 INVENTOR. GORDON E. BELNAP ATTORNEY United States Patent F 3,483,574 PURTABLE ATIEETIC TABLE Gordon E. Belnap, Logan, Utah, assiguor to University of Utah Filed May 3, 1968, Ser. No. 726,457 Int. Cl. A61g 1/02; A47b 83/04 US. Cl. -86 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention pertains to portable table devices and particularly to an athletic table accommodating a Wide variety of athletic needs.

Historically, it has been necessary for coaches of althletic teams to transport athletic equipment to the playing area in canvas bags and related carriers. This transportation has proved burdensome and inefficient in that several persons or multiple trips are normally required to transport all of the required items. Once in the playing area, an athlete is often in need of taping or first air treatment. If an injury occurs, which may be serious, a stretcher may be needed. Frequently, adequate facilities are not available to accommodate the need. Normally it is necessary to remove the player to the dressing room for taping or, in case of injury, to wait a dangerous long time in the playing area, with little or no aid, until first aid equipment and/ or a stretcher can be brought from a remote location. The inevitable time delay adds not only to the danger but to pain and suffering as well.

Also, coaches of athletic teams during practice frequently need to graphically illustrate plays or the like as a teaching air to athletes. When it is necessary for the team to leave the playing area to the location of a chalk board or the like, the time delay causes the effectiveness of the graphic illustration to be significantly reduced and the athletes will thereafter be required to once more warm up before practice can be resumed.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide an athletic table which overcomes or alleviates problems of the type mentioned.

The presently preferred embodiments of the invention comprise a portable athletic table having a light weight tubular frame which is mounted upon casters to accommodate free and easy movement. The tubular frame is designed so that athletic equipment may be stored inside and easily transported to the playing area. The tubular frame is provided with a removable table top which serves as a closure or lid for the storage area formed by the tubular frame and which may be utilized as a emergency stretcher when it is removed from the support frame. The underside of the table top is provided with a chalk board or the like and, when the table top is fixed in a generally upright position, the chalk board may be used for graphically illustrating athletic plays.

It is therefore another primary object of the present invention to provide a versatile athletic table that is easily portable to a playing area.

It is another object of the invention to provide an athletic table providing (a) an equipment storage compartment which may be locked, (b) a light stretcher for 3,483,574 Patented Dec. 16, 1969 emergency use, (c) a place for administration of first aid and the like ((1) a writing surface, and (e) platform surface area upon which one or two athletes may sit or lie while being taped, etc.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective of the presently preferred embodiment of the assembled invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded schematic perspective of a collapsible structural frame embodiment;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic illustration of the table top with portions broken away to expose bracing structure on the underside thereof;

FIGURE 4 schematically illustrates the table top in raised vertical position on one side of the structural frame;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse cross section taken along line 5--5 of FIGURE 4 with parts broken away for clarity; and

FIGURE 6 schematically illustrates a caster wheel shown in partial cross section to reveal the wheel locking mechanism.

With reference to FIGURE 1, the portable athletic table 10 comprises a free generally designated 14, which is preferably formed essentially from light weight steel or aluminum tubing and comprises vertical corner posts 16 which are continuous with a horizontal portion 13 (FIGURE 4) and thus form terminal ends of an essentially U-shaped tubular side element generally designated 15. Posts 16 are connected to horizontal side member 18 by welding or the like.

Vertical corner posts are likewise continuous with a horizontal potrion 17 (FIGURE 4) and form terminal ends of an essentially U-shaped side element generally designated 19 which is essentially identical to the member 15. Posts 20 are rigidly connected by welding or the like to the horizontal side member 22. Each corner post 16 is connected intermediate its length by brace 24 and similarly each post 18 is connected by brace 26. Posts 16 and 18 are connected both front and rear by transverse braces 28 and 30 respectively. Transverse braces 29 and 31 (FIGURE 4) connect the horizontal portions 13 and 17 so that the braces and posts collectively cooperate to form a rigid, rectangular structure.

Horizontal side members 18 and 22 are essentially identical and each is continuous at both ends with a closed loop 32 and 34 respectively. Each closed loop 32 is connected to the opposite loop 34 by a lateral brace 35 located adjacent the top of the loop and lateral brace 36 located adjacent the bottom of the loop. Braces 36, both front and rear, are connected by parallel longitudinal rods 38 and 39, the braces 35 and 36, the side elements 15 and 19 and the intermediate brace members 24, 26, 28 and 30 and all cooperate to define a compartment for storage of balls and other athletic equipment.

If desired, a metal mesh or screen 40 may be welded or otherwise attached to the interior of the assembled frame 14 to substantially enclose the storage area.

The frame 14 is also provided with a tray 41, removably connected at one end of the table as shown in FIGURE 1. The tray 41 may be conveniently used for carrying first aid equipment, tape and the like.

Each of the closed loops 32 and 34 are provided with vertically disposed hollow shafts 42 (best shown in FIG- URE 6). Each shaft 42 is provided with bearing housings 44 and 46 respectively attached to the upper and lower ends of the shaft 42. The housings 44 and 46 carry conventional ball bearing asemblies 48 and 50.

A spindle 52 is vertically disposed for rotation with the bearing assemblies 48 and 50 and is connected by welding or threaded nut or the like to a wheel bracket 54. The spindle 52 is prevented from inadvertent expulsion from the bearing assemblies 48 and 50 and the hollow shaft 42 by a retaining washer 55 and a retaining nut 56.

The bracket 54 is preferably formed of metal and is generally U-shaped in the transverse plane. Aligned apertures (not shown) adjacent the terminal ends 55 and 57 of the bracket 54 receive a conventional wheel axle 58 comprising an enlarged head 59 at one end and retained in place in the apertures by nut 60. Wheel 62 is rotatably journalled to the axle 58 for free movement thereon.

If desired, one or more of the wheels 62 may be provided with a wheel locking mechanism. Although any suitable braking or wheel locking mechanism could be used, one preferred embodiment is illustrated in FIG- URES l and 6 and is generally designated 70. The wheel locking mechanism 70 principally comprises an L-shaped bracket 72 fixed by welding or the like to vertical post 20 and extends a short distance laterally beyond the periphery of the post 20 as shown in FIGURE 1. Another L-shaped bracket 74 is similarly attached to the hollow shaft 42. Each bracket 72 and 74 is provided with aligned apertures 76 and 78 which are adapted to receive rod 80.

Rod 80 has a portion 81 which is bent to the horizontal at 82 so that it can be reciprocally, manually movable in apertures 76 and 78. A retaining ring 84 limits the downward movement of the rod 80. The rod 80 is continuously biased downward by a coil spring 86 disposed between the bracket 72 and another retaining ring 88.

An essentially circular disc 90 is welded or otherwise fixed to the top of the bracket 54 and is provided with at least one aperture 92 adapted to receive the terminal portion 93 of the rod 80. When the rod 80 is in the full line position shown in FIGURE 6, with the end 81 hooked over the bracket 72, the spring 86 is compressed and the wheel and bracket is free to rotate. When the rod 80 is rotated 180, the rod 80 will be displaced downward to the dotted line position of FIGURE 6 because of the bias of the spring 86. If an aperture 92 is aligned with the rod 80, the tip 93 of the rod 80 will project into the aperture 92 and prevent rotation of the wheel bracket. If an aperture 92 is not aligned with the rod 80, the terminal portion 94 of the rod 80 will rest upon the upper surface of the disc 90 until the wheel bracket is rotated to put the aperture in alignment.

When two separate wheel brackets are fixed in directions 90 apart, the position of the frame 14 will be essentially fixed relative to the ground.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 3-5, a table top or platform 100 comprises a rigid metal frame 102 which is essentially rectangular in shape and defines an area somewhat larger than the top of frame 14. The outer periphery of the frame 102 is provided with a ridge member 104 which is preferably formed of rubber or the like to make hand manipulation of the top easier and to act as a cushion bumper when the frame 14 is moved adjacent a wall or furniture.

A web 105 is located central of the frame 102 and is preferably formed of essentially rigid, light weight metal. Nevertheless, many varieties of webs are within the scope of the present invention, including tightly woven fabric and the like.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 3, the underside of the platform 100 is provided with two parallel brace members 104 and 106. The brace members 104 and 106 are welded or otherwise connected to the metal frame 102 and are shaped so as to form legs 108, 110, 112 and 114. When the platform 100 is separated from the frame 14, the legs 108, 110, 112 and 114 will support the platform 100 above the floor or ground surface.

The legs 108 and 110 are each provided with a lateral projection 115 and 116 (best illustrated in FIGURE which form a channel 118 adapted to receive the horizontal member 17. When the platform 100 is in the position shown in FIGURE 1, the projections 115 and 116 4 prevent the complete removal of the platform from the frame 14. Moreover, the opposite legs 112 and 114 rest adjacent the inside of horizontal member 13 and restrain the platform 100 from appreciable lateral movement relative to the frame 14. When the platform 100 is arcuately displaced to an angular position, preferably vertical as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, projections 115 and 116 allow the platform 100 to be completely removed.

Rods or brackets 120 and 122 are preferably former of rigid metal and are hooked or otherwise movably attached at 124 and 126 to the horizontal member 13. The hooked portions 124 and 126 allow the rods or brackets 120 and 122 to be arcuately moved from a position (not shown! depending downwardly inside the frame 14 to an elevated position as illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5. Rods or brackets 120 and 122 each have a laterally projecting portion 128 and 130 adapted to be received by apertures 132 and 134 in the legs 108 and 110. When the platform 100 is rotated to the vertical position as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, and when the rods or bracket 120 and 122 are inserted in the apertures 132 and 134 in the legs 108 and 110 as illustrated, the platform 100 will be fixed in an essentially vertical position. It is presently preferred, that the central portion of the underside of the platform 100 be provided with a chalk board 130 or the like, illustrated in FIGURE 4 as brown in color. When the platform 100 is fixed in the vertical position, graphical indicia ma be conveniently placed on the chalk board for purposes of instruction.

It is presently preferred that the web 105 be spaced from the frame 102 at the corner locations 134, 136, 138 and 140 respectively (see FIGURES l and 4). The spaces, thus created, form hand holds with the corner portions of the frame 102 and ridge member 104 to make manipulation of the platform 100 easier and to provide a convenient place for the hands in manipulating the frame 14 when the platform 100 is attached thereto.

FIGURE 2 illustrates another presently preferred embodiment of the invention generally designated 200. The embodiment of FIGURE 2 shows the frame embodiment without a removable platform for ease of illustration. The removable platform 100 illustrated in the embodiment of FIGURE 1 may be conveniently used with the frame structure 200 of FIGURE 2. The frame structure 200 differs from the frame structure 14 in that it is completely collapsible for use of shipping and the like.

The frame 200 comprises two essentially identical side elements 202 each of which comprises to top horizontal member 206, wide vertical posts 208 and 210 and a horizontal base member 212. A horizontal brace member 214 gives strength to the structures 202. The base member 212 essentially identical to the horizontal side members 18 in FIGURE 1 and forms a portion of a continuous path comprising the base member 212, the vertical post 208, the upper horizontal member 206 and the vertical post 210.

The end portions of the frame 200 comprise essentially rectangular closed loop braces 216 and 218. Brace 218 differs from brace 216 only in that brace 218 is provided with an outwardly projecting rod 220 which maybe used as a towel rack or the like.

The bottom portion 221 of the frame 200 comprises a closed loop 222 and a plurality of longitudinally parallel braces 224. The braces 224 are sufiiciently close together that most athletic balls and the like will not fall therebetween.

Brace members 226 and 228 are adapted to connect the top portions of side members 202 and 204 to give strength and rigidity to the structure. Each of the respective elements of frame 200 may be connected in position by nut and bolt combinations through apertures in the frame structure as shown in FIGURE 2. If desired, a supplemental tray 230, illustrated in phantom in FIGURE 2. may be made removably attachable to the frame 200 by connect pins 323 and 234 which may be inserted into 5 apertures 236 and 238, respectively, in the vertical posts 208.

The wheels 240 are preferably completely removable from the side members 202 and 204 and may be provided with suitable braking structure 242, which may be conventional.

it is apparent from the foregoing, that the present invention provides a highly versatile athletic table comprising a rigid frame adapted to be used as a storage compartment for athletic equipment and the like and a novel table top platform, which may be used (a) as a taping or rubdown table for athletes, (b) as a teaching aid when it is rotated and fixed in an angular position relative to the frame to expose a chalk board or the like and (c) as a stretcher for emergency use when it is completely removed from the frame structure.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a portable athletic or like table comprising a wheel-supported frame presenting opposed sides, opposed ends and a bottom, each comprising covering means which is essentially impenetrable by athletic goods, the sides, ends and bottom being integral at the corners and together forming an open top storage compartment adapted to receive the goods, a removable essentially fiat normally generally horizontal top platform supported by the frame at an elevation above the frame so as to cover the top opening of the frame, the platform being adapted to support at least one man thereon, means interposed between the frame and the top platform for restraining the platform against appreciable horizontal movement relative to the frame and for accommodating at least some pivotal movement of the platform relative to the frame along one edge of the platform when the platform is in the assembled position and means for completely removing the platform from the frame only after the platform is pivotally moved out of the normal horizontal position.

2. In a table as defined in claim 1 wherein the removing means comprises U-shaped bracket means carried by the platform adjacent one edge thereof with the opening in the U directed essentially horizontally away from the platform and the bracket means resting partially around the top edge of one component of the frame to accommodate said pivotal movement of the platform from the mentioned horizontal position to at least one position at a substantial angle to the horizontal and further comprising means for retaining the platform in such angular position.

3. In a portable athletic table as defined in claim 2 wherein the top further comprises a writing surface integral with and forming a part of the underside thereof facing the storage compartment when the top is in the horizontal, closed position so that when the top is placed in an angular position with respect to the horizontal, the writing surface will be visibly exposed to receive and display information.

4. In an athletic table as defined in claim 1 wherein the top platform is essentially rigid and is provided with spaced handholds for manually controlling movement of the athletic table for pivotally moving the top platform to an angular position and removing the top platform from the frame and for carrying the platform after removal from the frame.

5. In a portable athletic table as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said wheels comprises manually engageable braking structure for selectively parking the athletic table in a desired restrained position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,196,044 4/1940 Tyrrell 312-230 X 3,259,922 7/1966 Fischer 586 3,304,116 2/1967 Stryker 5-81 X 3,413,663 12/1968 Swann 5-86 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner U.S. c1. X.R. 

